Rocky Star Was So Broke He Had to Sell His Dog, But They Were Meant to End Up Together
The Rocky star was so down on his luck that he had to sell his faithful companion, Butkus. But the story doesn’t end there…
Not all celebrities were born into the business. Rocky star, Sylvester Stallone, talks freely about his struggle to the top. Stallone had a beloved Bull Mastiff named Butkus, who he credits with the idea to write “Rocky”.
Before the film was a reality, the Rocky star was in a hard spot. Times were tough, money was scarce and jobs weren’t coming as hoped. Unable to afford groceries, Stallone sold Butkus for $40 outside of a 7-Eleven store.
When Sylvester sold the Rocky screenplay, he went back to the man who he had sold Butkus to in hopes of buying him back. Knowing how much Butkus meant to Stallone and hearing his success, the man quickly sold Butkus back – for a profit of $14,960. That’s right – Stallone bought Butkus back for $15,000. On his Instagram post, the Rocky star says:
“…I relied on his companionship…He was worth every penny!”
Sylvester Stallone’s wrote about his early days:
“I absolutely love pictures like this. When I was 26, totally broke, going nowhere VERY fast, owned two pairs of pants that barely fit, shoes that had holes in them and dreams of being successful were as far away as the sun … But I had my dog, BUTKUS, my best friend, my confidant, Who always laughed at my jokes, and put up with my moods, and was the one living thing that loved me for who I was! #man’s best friend #BullMastiff #Loyalty #NewYorkCity #AmericanDreams.”
Stallone and Butkus went on to film Rocky I and II together. Butkus was a natural on set.
While Sylvester Stallone has gone on to make quite a name for himself, including winning multiple Academy Awards, he never forgets the companion that stood by him faithfully through thick and thin. In a 2015 interview, Sly said of his old friend: “He’s still my desktop wallpaper.”
We love to hear these stories of man’s best friend!
